Thursday, 25 September 2014

Read in 2014 - 36: The Human Machine

„The Human Machine“ is not a
work of science fiction, dealing with cyborgs as the title could
suggest, but non-fiction by Arnold Bennett first published in 1925. Its
main goal is to show the reader that it is possible
to use one’s own brain to a great extent and therefore improving one’s
own life significantly, without depending on (or blaming!) circumstances
that can be controlled by ourselves, if at all, only in a limited way.

It was a delightful read,
although I did not always agree 100 % with the author’s theories. But
everything he says is presented in a chattily confidential manner
without ever being condescending or too banal. In fact,
the style is elegant enough to make this a good book even for someone
who is not overly interested in the subject, and the relative shortness
adds to its being more of a pleasure than a tedious struggle from page
to page, as can sometimes be the case with
theoretical works on the subject of the human brain.

The author starts by
comparing us humans to a machine we have no manual for. This instantly
reminded me of a friend of mine who has been using very similar words
when talking about how wonderful he finds the discoveries
he has constantly been making about himself and in connection with
others in the past years.

With each chapter, more
reasons for wanting to exert the fullest possible control about one’s
brain are given, and also suggestions as how to get there – eventually.
Nowhere does the author promise a “miracle” of instant
inward and outward change of a person; instead, he admits that it will
be a continuous process, not free from setbacks, probably for a year or
more before success becomes evident. He also dedicates a chapter to how
useless the striving after material goods
is in contributing to real happiness and to perfect the “art of
living”. Altogether, I was as much entertained as intrigued by this
book, and as it was of course a free find at the kindle store, I can
recommend it to anyone who would like to read something
different for a change.

The author mentions Annie
Besant as the author of “Thought Power”, calling it “…one of the best
books of this astounding woman”. Since I have read Mrs. Besant’s
autobiographical sketches not long ago (the review is here),
to come across her once again so soon, after I’d never even heard her
name until quite recently, was interesting.

Arnold Bennett is yet another
one of those prolific and rather popular authors I had never heard of
until I found one of their works in the kindle store for free. He lived
from 1867 to 1931 and wrote many novels and short
stories, but also numerous works of non-fiction. He worked as a
journalist and in Public Service. He lived in France for some years and
married a French lady. They separated 13 years later. For the last ten
years of his life, Bennett lived with an English
actress he had fallen in love with. She changed her last name to
Bennett without ever being legally married to him. They had a daughter
together. Bennett died at the age of 63 from typhoid.

A quirky bit of trivia about him I found on Wikipedia: “Bennett
is one of a select number of celebrities to have a dish named after
them. While he was staying at the Savoy Hotel in London, the chefs
perfected an omelette incorporating smoked haddock, Parmesan cheese and
cream, which pleased the author so much he insisted on it being
prepared wherever he travelled. The 'Omelette Arnold Bennett' has
remained a Savoy standard dish ever since.It is served in several other hotels and restaurants in London as well.”

The English writer Margaret Drabble wrote a biography of him that I've been meaning to read for years. I did try one of his books, Riceyman Steps but found it a bit dull, and didn't continue. I would like to read others to see if it was just that particular story. I have read that it isn't like his other work.